Separable ring fastener



y 8, 1956 c. H. SWENSON 2,744,530

SEPARABLE RING FASTENER Filed Sept. 12, 195] 2 Sheets-Sheet l @gl. 12 n2 INVENTOR CHARLES H. SWENSON ATTORNEY y 3, 1956 c. H. SWENSON SEPARABLE RING FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1951 INVENTOR CHARLES H. SWENSON ATTORNEY United States Patent y by 2,744,530 SEPARABLE RING FASTENER Charles H. Swenson, Plainfield, N. J., assignor to Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation, a corporation of ,New York This invention relates to a separable fastener of the ring type which is adapted for use with either separate sheets or with continuous sheets, as described in my Patent 2,537,172, dated January 9, 1951, for File for Continuous Sheets/Fand has for an object to provide an improved fastener making it possible to turn the sheets as in a loose-leaf notebook with greater ease. Another object=is to provide such a fastener that is less'likely to tear outer sheets, particularly when no covers are provided. A further object is to provide such a fastener that maybe locked in one position to keep the covers from being opened. Still another object is to provide such a fastener that may be quickly and easily attached to a stack :of sheets by threading one side of the fastener through the stacked sheets, instead of the usual practice of threading a few sheets at a time onto the fastener. Yet another object is to provide a clamping device for. retaining the sheets and covers closed under compression, the same vbeing also adapted for holding the stacked sheets firmly in position with their perforations aligned during theprocess of threading the fastener through the stack of sheets.

Much time and expense are involved today in inserting and handling perforate sheets in a binder. themselves are expensive and the fasteners require time for many sheets to be fastened.

According to this invention, an improved ring type separable fastener is provided that may be inserted and removed-from almost any number of sheets and one that is less likely-to tear outer sheets, in event no covers are used. These fasteners may cooperate with stifi covers to provide the new result of locking the covers against being opened.

More specifically, as illustrated, the preferred embodiment contemplates a separable spring ring type fastener having parallel straight side portions. The upper connecting portion'between these side portions is provided with an upwardly inclined part and a small radius bend, en-

abling sheets to be raised and guided up the inclined portion to the crest of the bend and not requiring the sheet to be guided thereafter as it falls by gravity down an opposite side portion. A flange at the bottom of either or both side portions reduces the tendency for sheets to be torn when no covers are used. The overlapping ends, where separation occurs, are shaped to avoid any bulge or recess on which a sheet might catch before falling flat into the desired position. The bottom connecting portion forms substantially a right angle between the side portions, with the lower surface of this lower connecting portion flattened to give the fastener stability on a flat surface like a desk;

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device of Fig. 1 in closed position; v

Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of this inve'ntion-with the fastener open;

The binders r Patented May 8,1956

ice I Fig. 4 shows the separable fastener of this invention in use having the pages to be turned on the right side and thosealready turned on the left side;

Fig. 5. is a perspective detail looking at the separable portions of the fastener of Fig. 3 prior to its being closed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the separable portions of the fastener in closed position;

Fig. 7 shows the separable fastener of this invention applied to the binder, so that the fastener will provide a lockingfunctionfor the binder and its contents;

Fig. 8 is a perspective showing the device of this invention with a compression device for holding the stacked sheets with their perforations in alignment prior to in- I, which the top cover is adapted to take the place of the separate compression plate of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is view corresponding to to Fig. 2 but in which the clamping plate covers only a small portion of a sheet at the top.

The separable fastener of this invention is provided with side portions Hand 11, which are substantially parallel, the length of these portions depending upon the thickness of sheets that are to be held by the fastener. In other words, the fastener of this invention is preferably made in several sizes or lengths. Adjacent the upper right portion 10 is the separable part, explained more in detail hereinafter, in connection with Figs. 5 and 6. The upper connecting portion 12 shown in the drawing as being curved extends between the side portions 10 and 11 slopes upwardlyand rearwardly from the separable part of the fastener; a bend 13 at the apex is of much shorter radius of curvature than half the distance between the side portions 10 and 11. .The lower connecting portion 14 is provided at the junction of the connecting portion and flanges 15 and 15a. These flanges are preferably formed by upsetting some of the metal of which the fastener is composed, so that the flange will have a diameter in excess of the diameter of the standard perforations in the continuous fan folded sheets used in the business tabulating machines which sheets are to be fastened. If not formed of fastener material, the flanges may be soldered or welded in place. The purpose of these flanges is to lessen the tendency for sheets of paper at each end of the stack to betorn when contiguous the base portion 14. With such flanges, it should be no longer necessary to reinforce the paper around the perforations, as so often has to be done now.

The bottom face of the lower connecting portion 14 is flattened, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the flat surface may have a better foundation and tend to stand upon a flat surface, such as the top of a desk or table.

In Fig. 4, the fastener is in an upright position connecting two stacks of sheets 17 and 18; those on the right designated by the numeral 17 are what remain of an original stack of sheets before the pages being turned as in turning the pages of a book fall on the stack 18. In other words, in the stack 18 are pages which have been turned over from the stack 17. In turning the pages, it is desirable to raise and guide a sheet or sheets up the side 10 of the fastener and upwardly on the inclined portion 12. When the sheet or sheets being turned have reached the apex, they may be released and fall by gravity down the side portion 11 without it being necessary for an operator to guide the page or pages being turned downwardly, as is so often necessary with the circular ring type fasteners. Stated in another way, it is only necessary for the operator to raise and guide the sheets being turned to the apex 13 and not necessary to guide these sheets downwardly. vThe stack of sheets shown in Fig. 4 is, for purposes of illustration, shown as separate or individual sheets, but it will be understood that theseparable fastener of this inventionisalsowell. adapted..

threaded through a stack of sheets having their perforations aligned.

In Figs. and 6 are shown details of the separable connection in which each of the separable'portions is provided with a projection- 19 or '20, and 'correspondingrecesses 22 and 23in which these projections are received! Such projections are desirable in order that no longitudinal thrust along the side portions may tend to' separate or open the fastener- For purposes of illustration, the projections 19 and 20 are shown asbeing rounded, but these may be of reetangular or polygonal cross section. The meeting edges of the separable portions 21- are-preferably flattened and engage snugly withoutany substantial recess or enlarged portion beingpresent, upon which the paper might catch in being turned. In other words, the external surface of the fastener at the separable portions is of the same general shape as elsewhere, in order toreduce the possibility ofany paper catching on a bulge or ledge.

In Fig. 7, the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 3

is illustrated as having been passed through a stack ofsheets placed between upper and lower covers 24"and- 25 of stiff material such as is commonly used in the trade for the covers of loose-leaf binders.- of these covers adjacent the perforations through which the fastener passes are rounded, as illustrated at 26, to providea cam surface over which the fastener may be' moved, causing the side portions and 11 to separate slightly or be bent apart; andthen, upon furthermovethe covers.

portion upon the covers tends to hold the 'covers against being opened. In Fig. 7, with the fastener in the dotted" line position, the sideportion'11 is outside of the sheets be ing heldby the covers when that portionis received-in the recesses or notches 27 and 28. To open the covers and provide access to the sheets held between them, the side portions 10 and 11 are spread until the side portion 11 can move out of the notches 27 and 28 and be" swung around the cam surfaces 26. into'the full line position, when the covers and sheets arethen adapted to be turned over, as illustrated-in Fig. 4. While the notches have been shown in Fig. 7 as residing only in the covers 24 and 25, it will be understood, if' no covers are used, that a stack ofsheets without such covers might also'be held closed by the fastener, provided the notches corresponding to those numbered27 and Bare formed in the side edges of the sheets near the top, so that the fastener may exert a similar action upon the stack and be turned to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 7. Without such covers, the adjacent, corners of the sheets should be rounded to provide cam surfaces 26.

Asshown in Fig. 8, separable fasteners ofthe type previously describedare shown aspassingthrough a stack of sheets between covers 24a and 25a. In order to exert a clamping or compressive action'uponthe' stack of sheets for-holding them with their perforations in alignment, andito facilitate threading the fasteners through the stack of sheets, a compressive deviceis' illustrated. This comprises :base plate 29, preferably of metal, from which upstanding posts31 and 32 may project, these having on theirinner'sidesmatchet teeth 33 for engagement with the edges of perforationsin an'upperclamping-plate30 to The corners pressed downward over the posts. The perforations in this platetltl .areso. spacedrthat. the. posts. are. spread. slightly, so that the teeth 33 clamp edges of the perforations in the plate 30 and hold the plate 30 pressed against the hinder or stack. To release the upper plate 30, it is necessary to spread the posts 31 and 32 with the fingers, thus releasing the ratchet teeth from their engagement with the edges of the plate. A flexible portion 34 may or may not be provided in the. cover 24a. One use of the compression device shown in Fig. 8 is to clamp the stack. of'slteets' with their perforations aligned for threading the fastener through the entire stack. As illustratedqin Fig. 8, for this purpose the compression device is located preferably close tothe-portionof the stack through which the fasteners pass, with the posts 31 and 32 outside both the covers and sheets. After the separable ring type fasteners have been engaged, the clamping device may be entirely removable or, where desired, for filing this clamping device may be moved closer to the. center. or. lower edge. of the covers' and sheets remote. from the.edgeadjacentwhichxthe. separable. fasteners pass. Thus, in Fig; i 8, either or 'both the compression. type fastener or the separable ring type fasteners may be used.

In'Fig. 9, another embodiment of the deviceilluxtratedu in- Fig. 8 is shown. In: this case, a. lower. compression plate 29b is used beneath the cover25b, but thevupper cover 24b isxofstiff, wear resistant material capable of functioning both: as .a. cover and; as. an upper .compression plate, making aseparate upper compression. plate unneces salty; Th'e'posts-31b-1and32b areprovided with thesame ratchet :teeth 33b' as .mentionedpreviously and as illustrated These postspass through-thecovers but outside of. thesheetsheld therebetween. In Fig. 9, as in Fig. 8', I the. fasteners-exert a locking actionupon the covers in addition to theclamping action of thecornpression device,- but,;since.the posts in Fig. 9 arenot-adapted tobe moved: awayfrom: the:separable=fasteners, there is less necessity for having-both clamping. devices-in use simultaneously. If desired, additional: perforations not shown but locamd adjacent the opposite or lower edge of the covers may be provided,"so that thecompression device may also be movedv to engage'the covers adjacent their lower edges. In this latterevent, there will be more use for a clamping device at both the top and bottom of the covers.

Unlike theusual separable fastener, that of this-invention may be threaded' through a thick stack of sheets and then closed, as distinguished from the somewhat'usual present practice of threading-one or'a few'sheets at-a time ontothe fastener,- as is common with the'circular ring' type fastener. Locating the separable portion close' to the upwardly inclined part 12 enables the fastener to be readily disengaged, somewhat after the-manner of' a safety pin, but, unlike the safety-pin; there arenobulges" or'ledges'against whicha cover or sheetislikely to catch in 'being turned.

In Fig.- 8*, it is-possible to havethe equivalent of apost binder and aseparablefastener ring type binder; both at the sametime; In this way, with the top plate 30of Fig. 8 close to the separable'fasteners'and above'the flexible portion 34, then, by releasing the top plate 30 in the manner described it is possible to insert a page or pages anywhere desiredby turning over the desired number of pageswith the-aid 'of the separable fasteners, as shown in Fi'g;4, and; on opening the fasteners the sheetor sheets can be inserted inthe desired place, yet have the'sheets on each side' of the newly' inserted sheets still held togethcr llTOI'dGI'. In other words,'with the device of Fig, 8, it is possihle'to have the equivalent of' a post binder yet have such binder capable of having the sheets held. by the separable fasteners during insertion of 'newsheets or removal ofsheets' wherever desired without having to,

remove anysheets not desired .to be removed from the fasteners. Stated in another way, the device of Figs, 8. and 9 enables a post binder to be made. possessing the advantages of a ring binder for loose leaves. Onspread:

ing the posts the lower plate may flex enough to allow the plate 30 to be released.

In Fig. is shown another embodiment enabling the advantages of a post and a separable ring type binder to V be present simultaneously. The clamping plate 300 is shaped to extend between the perforations'in the paper and the top edge, i. e. between the side 10 of each-fastener and the top edge of covers 240 and 250. The base plate 29c may be recessed to receive the bottom connecting wherebyga larger portion of a page is rendered visible when I cover 240 is raised about its portion 34c as a pivotal axis.

The top clamping platemay have the general shape indicated and be provided with notches or recesses 35 and 36 into which the side portions 11 of the fasteners can be swung past camsurfaces 37 corresponding to the rounded surfaces 26 in Figs. 7 and 8. It is because there may be no room at the sides of plate 300 that the recesses 35 and 36 may be provided on the top edge and just deep enough forthe fasteners to be retained therein with a little locking effect. More than two separable fasteners ;and locking recesses therefor may be located along the upper edge portions of the covers and sheets enclosed 'therebetween. When not desired the recesses 35 and 36 can be omitted, but when used such recesses are also in the lower cover 25c, base plate 29c and also in the sheets of paper, clamped between covers. As was the j case in Fig. 8 for example, the embodiment of Fig. 10

provides a construction having the advantages of both a post binder, and; a loose leaf binder, in being able I to extractor insert pages anywhere desired quickly and easily and without having to remove a great many sheets from the binder. Having the pivotal portion 34c of the top cover 24c located close to the side portions 10 of the fasteners enables a large part of each sheet of paper to be made visible for writing and inspection. The clamping plates in each embodiment should be rigid and wear resisting material.

What'is claimed is:

1. The combination with a pair of stiff covers between Y which perforate sheets are adapted to be held, a separable ring type fastener having a pair of substantially parallel and straight side portions, said covers. being perforated adjacent at least one corner thereoflwhereby said fastener -may have. one of its side portions extend through said perforation in each cover and the other side portion remain outside said covers and any sheets therebetween, the corner of said covers adjacent said perforation being rounded on a radius of curvature to enable the side of I in said recesses.

having perforations adjacent a top edge thereof, ring type separable fasteners having parallel side portions with one of such side portions of each fastener passing through said covers and another and outer side portion of each fastener outside the covers, said covers each having a recess in an edge adjacent each fastener and into which a fastener may be swung with its outer side for reception 3. The combination with a pair of covers between which a plurality of sheets may be bound, said covers having perforations adjacent a top edge thereof, ring type separable fasteners having parallel side portions with one of such side portions of each fastener passing through said covers and another and outer side portion of each fastener outside the covers, said covers each having a recess in an edge adjacent each fastener and into which a fastener may be swung with its outer side for reception therein, a rounded camming surface over which such fastener side portion must be moved in moving it into and out of said recess, said surface being located at a distance from its adjacent cover perforation to cause the side portions of the fastener to be spread slightly in moving over such surface and into or out of said recess, a

'pair of. substantially rigid plates between which said covers and perforated sheets may be clamped, and a pair of upstanding posts secured to the lower one of said plates and spaced apartfar enough to be outside said covers and outside any sheets between the covers, the upper plate being slidable over said posts and outside said ring type fasteners, said upper plate and posts being shaped for clamping engagement with said posts for different thickness of sheets therebetw'een, whereby said upper and lower plates may clamp at least one of the stack of sheets and covers with the posts under tension due to said clamping, said posts and plates being movable along said covers towardand from said fasteners and any sheets held by said ring type fasteners.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,826 Cooke et a1. May 21, 1889 522,860 Slaton July 10, 1894 807,783 Shreiner Dec. 19, 1905 826,656 Gerow July 24, 1906 876,474 Morden Jan. 14,1908 1,171,118 Harris Feb. 8, 1916 1,189,826 Jenkins July 4, 1916 1,342,766 Schade June .8, 1920 1,817,488 Irving Aug. 4, 1931 1,894,137 Unger Jan. 10, 1933 2,083,556 Buchan June 15, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 174,735 Germany 1906 105,090 Great Britain 1917 109,005 Great Britain 1917 

